Page 30 of Boards & Betrayal

The cold metal of the car door pressed against my back was a shock compared to the heat between us. It grounded me in reality, even as everything else seemed to blur away. My mind screamed that this was reckless, but my body refused to listen. Every fiber of my being was attuned to him, craving more of his touch, more of his intensity.

When we finally broke apart for air, both of us were panting heavily. Our foreheads rested together as we tried to catch our breath. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

In that moment, nothing else mattered—not the rain soaking through our clothes or the chaos of our tangled pasts. All that existed was this raw connection between us, something neither of us could deny any longer.

"Come home with me," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "Before I fuck you against the car."

I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. The rain pelted us relentlessly, each drop a reminder of the madness of this moment. I wasn’t this kind of girl—wasn’t the type to lose herself in impulsive decisions. Especially not after just breaking up with my boyfriend. This wasn't a good idea. My rational mind screamed at me to step back, to think it through.

But then there was the way Thomas looked at me, the way his touch set my skin on fire. His words hung in the air between us, charged with electricity. A thousand reasons why this waswrong flashed through my mind, but they were drowned out by the roaring need coursing through my veins.

"Thomas…" I began, but my voice faltered. The conviction I wanted to project crumbled under the weight of his intense gaze.

He didn't say anything more, just watched me with those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through my defenses. His hands tightened slightly on my waist, grounding me even as everything else felt like it was spinning out of control.

A part of me wanted to pull away, to put some distance between us and regain my composure. But another part—a part I barely recognized—yearned for more of this reckless abandon. My recent heartbreak had left a void inside me, one that Thomas seemed capable of filling, even if just for a night.

I shouldn't do this. I knew that much. But the word "shouldn't" felt flimsy in the face of the undeniable chemistry crackling between us.

"Okay," I whispered finally, my voice barely audible over the pounding rain.

Thomas's eyes darkened with something primal as he pulled back slightly to look at me. He didn't ask if I was sure; he could see the answer in my face. Instead, he took my hand and led me towards his car parked a few spaces away.

As we climbed into his car, dripping wet and shivering from both cold and anticipation, a strange calm settled over me. The decision had been made—reckless or not—and now there was no turning back.

The engine roared to life, and Thomas cast a sidelong glance at me as he shifted into gear. His expression was unreadable, but charged with intensity.

We drove in silence, the sound of rain against the windshield our only accompaniment. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing with a mix of anxiety and exhilaration.

For tonight, I decided to let go of the shoulds and shouldn'ts and allow myself to feel—to live—without overthinking every consequence.

And maybe… just maybe… that was exactly what I needed right now.

I woke up,tangled in my sheets, heat radiating from my skin. My heart ached in a familiar way that made me groan. It was stupid to miss him this much, especially after months of silence. But every fiber of my being seemed to rebel against logic, clinging to the memory of Thomas.

I rolled over, staring at the ceiling. It was ridiculous. I tried to convince myself that it was just a phase, that I would eventually get over it. But no matter how many times I repeated that mantra, the hollow feeling in my chest remained.

A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I frowned, sitting up. Who the hell could that be at this hour? I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the room.

I reached the door and hesitated for a moment before looking through the peephole. My heart stopped.

Thomas.

I froze, gripping the doorknob so hard my knuckles turned white. What was he doing here? Why now, after all this time? A flood of emotions surged through me—anger, longing, confusion—all battling for dominance.

Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and opened it slowly. There he stood, drenched from the rain, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

"Thomas," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood there, looking as conflicted as I felt.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a step forward, closing the gap between us. I could see the tension in his jaw, the storm in his eyes mirroring the one outside. Before I could process what was happening, he reached out and pulled me into a kiss.

It was sudden and fierce, a collision of pent-up emotions and unspoken words. His lips were cold from the night but softened against mine with a desperation that matched my own. My hands found their way to his shirt, gripping it tightly as if letting go would mean losing him all over again.

And I couldn't do it. I couldn't lose him again.

Chapter 10

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